When I was trying to think of clever ways to promote my Dia de Los Muertos project, I tweeted: “help me become a victim of my own success.”

They say be careful what you wish for.

One hundred seventeen backers translates to over 100 pre-sold paintings, a new group of clients and endless opportunity. It’s a game-changer. Thanks to everyone who backed the project and everyone who cheered from the sidelines.

It’s going to be a busy year.

And Happy Halloween.

I am kind of in a Dia de los Muertos phase right now. Or is it still? I don’t know. I just love the imagery – it’s both dark and beautiful.

I’ve discoverd that many people are freaked out by the skulls and face-painting traditions. But you know, my dad went to Catholic school and they used to dress up as martyred saints on Nov. 1, so I guess it’s all relative.

Anyway, I happen to like skulls.

I’ll be launching  Kickstarter project soon, that, if all goes well, will be funded just in time for Dias de los Muertos, Nov. 1-2. I was painting some random portraits to get in the mood and the first person that came to mind was Jenny, The Bloggess. She’s the kind of gal you can say, “Hey, I’m painting you with a skull face.” And she’s like, “Alright then.”

"Rachael’s paintings are worth being injected by venom, nearly - but not quite - to the point of death." -Jenny, The Bloggess

UPDATED: Here’s a link to my Kickstarter project where you can get your own Day of the Dead portrait AND a Jenny The Bloggess cut-out mask.

 Just two more paintings to go before my 2012 Calendar goes into design! Hurray! The week away from my office job really helped. I’m on the home stretch. I can feel it.

I would like to point out that even though my calendar is completely funded, there are still a couple of spots left! There are two “month” spots left at $400 each: You get an 8×10 painting from your photo, the painting is included in the calendar as one of the months and you also get a signed calendar. Email me if interested.

Lucia will be in my calendar.

Another fun thing I’m playing around with is Zazzle. You can check out my Zazzle Store, which only has two items in it at the moment, here. Feel free to send requests!

When I was on vacation last week…(wait, I was on VACATION last week? Where has the time gone?) …I spent a great deal of time consuming caffeinated beverages and painting. I finished 13 paintings in fact. Mainly because in my studio, in front of the fan was the only place I could tolerate the insane heat. (In Oregon, 90 degrees  is the insane threshold, in case you’re keeping track.)

I love museums. I love how quiet they are. I love that everything is hung perfectly straight, and well-lit. I  love that you can sit in front of a painting for a long time without explaining yourself. I love that you and your sketch pad can  be endlessly inspired by old and new favorites.

While our recent trip to the Portland Art Museum didn’t include sketch pads, I did get plenty of inspiration thanks to  no-flash photography, two well-behaved kids and a long afternoon with no schedule.

"Don't touch anything!"

"I think this one is about depression," she whispered to me. That's pretty deep for a 7-year old.

Awesome portrait

I told my kids I thought this painting looked like me and it freaked them out. Heh heh.

Round Frame

The Blue Room

The Red Room

A different kind of wildlife art...

I looked into this woman's eyes and I could So. Relate.

"Don't touch ANYTHING!"

Gallery of Northwest Art

We've all had a neighbor with blue tarps, amiright?

Love this one.

Peek-a-boo!

How nervous does it make a mom when her kid starts waving his arms wildly right next to a Dale Chihuly glass installation? PRETTY NERVOUS.

My favorite painting of the day. Firstly, because it was a life-size Clydesdale; and secondly because there was a bench.

One of the most frequent questions clients ask me is “What kind of photos should I send you?”

My answer is always the same. Send your favorites.

I mean, there’s a reason you like that photo, right? Maybe it is the expression, or the location, or memory of a special day when the photo was taken. Chances are good that if you like the photo (and I do my job) you’ll like the painting too.

The challenge as a portrait painter is that I’m painting from a photo that only captures a slice of someone’s (or some pet’s) personality. So while I may paint an accurate representation of the photo, I always hold my breath until the client says, “I love it.”

Luckily, 99.9% of the time, they do.*

Dooley

*Other acceptable phrases include, “OMG.” and “It made me cry.”

One day in 2000 (according to imdb.com, though I could’ve sworn it was earlier) I was watching an episode of Law & Order: SVU with guest star Tracy Pollan (who I’ve been told on more than one occasion is my celebrity doppelganger.) Tracy was playing a crime victim named Harper Anderson and I don’t know why, but I was so struck by the name Harper that I immediately latched on to it and kept it quiet for years until my daughter was born.

I was so proud of myself because I had managed to “hide” this really cool, unique name from The World. In fact, when I told the nurses to put Harper’s name on her birth certificate, one of them exclaimed, “Thank god it’s not another Madison.” (My apologies to all the Madisons.)

My daughter is seven now, and it’s like suddenly I’m seeing Harpers everywhere. Even Posh and Becks named their new baby Harper.

But we did it first.

Harper, the Burnese Mountain Dog

On a completely tangential note…if you are a fan of Law & Order or pop culture in general, check out one of my favorite artists, Brandon Bird. Someday I’m going to get a Norton Defiant print because I really just need one in my life.

I’ve done it! I’ve finished the painting I will enter in the Washington International Horse Show poster contest. I’m kind of excited about it.

A client asked me to paint a piece of mining equipment that her father invented. It’s a gift for her dad and when she asked me to do it I played right along like I knew what a dragline even was. It seems like something that only people in the industry would know about but I was tickled when my dad spotted the painting in my studio and said, “Hey, that’s a dragline!”

Dads DO know everything.

Completed: June 17, 2011

Beverage: Three Buck Chuck

Soundtrack: Lady Gaga, Born This Way